The shooting guard will opt out of his deal this summer, but plans to stay in L.A.

Los Angeles Lakers shooting guard Nick Young will reportedly opt out of his contract this summer, with hopes of securing a multi-year contract with the franchise.

Young must make a decision by June 25, but he told Mark Medina of the Los Angeles Daily News that he would forego his $1.2 million player option and hit the open market.

The 29-year-old was precise about what he wanted in a new deal.

“Just more years. I believe I deserve more,” he said. “That’s up to my agent to do that for me. The Lakers are home, but things could happen. With free agency this year, it’s going to be crazy to see.”

Young, who grew up in Los Angeles and attended USC, has made no secret of his desire to remain in his hometown after stints in Washington and Philadelphia, and he said he would consider a pay-cut to play for the Lakers.

“It depends how much the discount is,” he said. “But as a player, everyone wants a place they feel comfortable at. I feel comfortable in L.A. But I can’t keep taking these discounts. I need a raise a little bit. But if it’s for the right cost and they’re bringing in players and I fit into the rotation, then I’ll probably take a pay cut.”

Young had a career year last season with the Lakers, setting highs for points (17.9) and three-pointers made (2.1) per game. As the franchise looks to rebuild after a dismal year, with plans to target a big name such as LeBron James or Carmelo Anthony, it is not clear whether they will fit the shooting guard into their roster.

“I think I could stick to my same role and help out Kobe,” he said. “He has to come out of the game sometime. If they get another good player, they have to come out of the game sometime. I’ll be their Jamal Crawford. The Clippers have a Sixth Man of the Year. The Lakers need to have one too.”

Jack Green

I'm Jack, an English Literature graduate from London, trained in journalism at the Press Association. I'm passionate about European football, particularly the Premier League and La Liga. I also love watching and writing about basketball, American football and boxing.